The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-12-24

Carleton, if you so choose to term it" for
she had turned with indignant query in her
eyes,, II pried into your affairs. Do you
think / can bear this, to know you are in
want-for want it must be, or you'd never
have stopped to ask that vulgar, purse-proud,
patronizing woman for money? Do you
think can live here and see you subjected
to this? By Heaven If nothing else
will move you, in Philips name, in your
children's name, let me lift this burden
from you. Send me across the continent
if you like. I'll promise to worry you no
more, if that will buy your trust. I've
lived and borne my lot these eight or nine
long years, and can bear it longer if need
be. What can't bear, and won't bear, is
your suffering from actual poverty. Kate
Carleton, won't you trust me p
GLOW can 1 be your debtor, Captain
Ransom? Ask yoursclf-ask any one
what would be said of me if took one
cent from your 1 do thank you. Lam
grateful for all you have done and would
do. Oh, it is not that 1 do not bless you
every day and night for being so thoughtful
for me, so good to my little ones 1t
wasn't for myself | was SO broken to-day;
it was for my-my babies oh, II can
not tell youp'
And now she broke down utterly, weep
ing Historically, uncontrollably. In the
abandonment of her grief she threw her
arms upon the wooden castings of the door
way, and bowed her head upon them. One
instant he stood there, his hands fercely
clinching, his broad chest heaving, his
bronzed, honest, earnest face working with
his weight of emotion, and then, with I'M
comfortable impulse, with one bound he
leaped to her side, seized her slender form
in his arms, and clasped her to his breast.
In vain she struggled; in vain her startled
eyes, filed with resolute loyalty to the old
faith, blazed at him through their mist OF
tears; he held her close, as once again, de-
spite her struggles and her forbidding
words, he poured forth his plea.
s'You can take it, you must takeit. For
your own sake, for your chidren's sake
even for his give me the right to pro-
tect and cherish you. II don't ask your
love. All, Kate, be merciful y and then
fatal inspiration but the face he loved
was $3.50 near; he never would have done
it had he thought it was only as utterly
uncomfortable an impulse as his wild en-
brace; his lips were so tremulous with en-
treaty, with love, sympathy, pleading, pity,
passion, everything that impelled and
nothing that restrained, that with sudden
sweep they fell upon her flushed and tear
wet cheek, and ere he knew it he had kiss
ed her.
There was no installing the wrath in
her eyes now. She was free in an instant,
and bidding him begone. He begged hard
for pardon, but to no purpose. She would
listen to nothing. Go he must-his
presence was insult. And he left her
painting with indignation, a vengeance
hurting goddess, a wild-eyed Juno, while
he at full gallop went tearing through the
snow-drifts, recklessly, dolefully, yet de-
terminedly, back to the post. In half an
hour he was whipping to town.
When sunset came, and the evening gun
awakened the echoes of the snow-shreuded
valley, and the red disk went down behind
the crested bluffs far up the stream, a
sleigh came out from the fort, and Captain
Vane, with curious mixture of cordiality
and embarrassment, restored Phil and Maud
to the maternal roof, and begged to hand
her the amount due from him and from
Captain Potts for family tuition. He had
only heard accidentally "a few minutes
before, of her request. And wasn't there
something else he could do? Would she
not 90 to town with him tomorrow morn
ing? She thanked him. She hardly
knew what to do. Here was the money al
least, but it was Christmas Eve now, and
there was no time to be lost, and town lay
full six miles away. Perhaps she wished
messenger now, suggested the Captain
he would send in mounted man gladly
Knowing no other way to secure her trea
sures for her little ones, she breathlessly
accepted his offer, briefly explained the
situation, and told him she ionged to have
the presents there, with the triAes she hac
made for them, to greet their eyes viii
the coming day. The messenger could g
to the store and get the coveted doll anC
carriage; there would surely be sleighs iron
the fort that would bring them out fol
him, and he would find the box from
Chicago at the express Office, and coulC
pay the charges and sign the receipt on hcl
written order to the agent. 1t was ar
ranged in moment, and with revivins
hope she gave the children their tea an.
strove to get them early to bed.
Ten o'clock came. The little ones wer,
at last asleep. She had filled the stock
ings with such inexpensive but loving re
membranes as she conld afford, and haC
tottered dangerously near the brink of an
other food of tears, when Malloy and hi
wife came in, the one with box Of tool
for Phil, the other with a set Of china 70
the doll house She had finally bidder
those faithful friends goodnight, and hay
ing arranged the few gifts she had for tn
children, she threw over her shoulders
heavy shawl, and went to the gate to lister
for the messengers return.
1t was perfect night-clear, still, AM